1982 Ford Mustang
Third generation · Fox-body 1979–1993
The long-running Fox-body, built on Ford’s Fox platform from 1979 to 1993.
The 1982 model year
Overview
"The Boss is Back." Ford revived the GT after a 13-year absence and brought back a real 302 V8 — a re-engineered 5.0 High Output rated at 157 hp, with a 2-barrel carb, dual exhaust, and a hotter cam. After three years of downsized engines, the Mustang was a performer again. (Horsepower figures are SAE net.)
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 2.3 I4 88 hp
- 3.3 I6 87 hp
- 255 (4.2) V8 120 hp
- 302 "5.0 HO" V8 (2-bbl, GT) 157 hp
- Transmissions
- 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
- Body styles
- Coupe (notchback), Hatchback (3-door)
- Base price
- $6,346 (base coupe) ≈$20,600 today (inflation-adjusted) Original MSRP adjusted for inflation (CPI, 2024); not the car's current market/collector value. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (U.S. city average, all items), annual average.
- Production
- 130,418
Year over year
What changed
- The GT returned after 13 years — Ford's "The Boss is Back" campaign.
- The 302 V8 came back as a 157-hp 5.0 High Output (revised cam, dual exhaust, larger 2-bbl carb).
- The C5 automatic replaced the C4.
- The 255 (4.2) V8 continued alongside the new 5.0 HO for its final year.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- The 5.0 HO is a robust Windsor small-block with deep parts support.
- Carbureted cold-start and idle quirks are normal for the era; verify the dual exhaust and HO cam are intact on a 'GT'.
- Inspect for Fox-body rust.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The performance turning point of the generation — the GT and 5.0 HO revival.
- The "5.0 HO" badge that defined the rest of the decade starts here.
Sources
- Wikipedia — "Ford Mustang (third generation)"
- FoxStang — 5.0 Fox-body engine specs
- Hagerty
- MustangSpecs — per-year base MSRP
Other Third generation years
Explore the Fox-body generation → All Third generation · Fox-body years →